Hydrogen gas generator



oa. zo, 1959 R. P. CRIST 2,909,119

, l HYDROGEN GAS GENERATOR n Filed July 15, 1955 jf ci;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O HYDROGEN `GAS GENERATOR Ralph P. Crist, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application July 15, 1955, Serial No. 522,411

9 Claims. (Cl. 102-14) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a gas generator and more particularly to a compact hydrogen gas generator for use in combination with a submarine launched moored mine for'making the mine buoyant in water.

Heretofore submarine launched moored mines were made buoyant by sealing off a section of the mine housing. As the mines were necessarily weighty, the sealed section had to be large to make them buoyant and as a consequence, the mine housings were large. Further such mines had to carry their own water supply whereby the chemicals therein were actuated to make the mines buoyant. This feature was disadvantageous because a large space was required to contain water and chemicals in addition to the sealed section.

The present invention is a hydrogengas generator which is compact and which will permit the use of a shorter mine housing. It is designed as a component of buoyancy mechanism of a submarine launched mine and comprises a container divided into two compartments by means of a partition. The upper compartment communicates with the exterior of the container through a check valveI designed and arranged to admit a predetermined amount of water into the interior of the container and to prevent the escape of generated gases. The lower compartment contains lithium hydride which upon contact with water liberates hydrogen gas. The partition between the upper and lower compartments is provided with openings for the passage of water from the upper to the lower compartments as well as for the equalization of pressure between said compartments. A conduit communicates with the lower compartment to transport the liberated gas to the mine casing to give the mine a predetermined buoyancy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gas generator which is a component of a buoyancy mechanism for a submarine launched mine.

Another object is to provide a hydrogen gas generator which does not require its own water supply.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas generator which is compact and is capable of generating cubic feet of gas at 600 pounds per square inch.

vAnother object of this invention is to provide a generator capable of operating satisfactorily when held in many different positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve for use with the gas generator which will quickly flood the water compartment at pressures ranging from 40 to 600 pounds per square inch and then act as` a seal for hydrogen gas at pressures as high as 600 pounds per square inch.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following ICC detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical cross-sectional view of the gas generator;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the hydrogen gas generator; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the check valve used in the gas generator.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference Acharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Figs. land 2, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, a casing 4 of welded construction adapted to form a streamlined assembly with a mine casing (not shown). The casing 4 is divided by a partition 5 into an upper compartment 6 and lower compartment 7. Secured to the casing 4 and the partition 5 is a conduit S having an inlet 9 adapted to admit sea water into the upper compartment 6 through a check valve `10 after the mine has been launched. The inlet 9 of the conduit 8 may be provided with any well known trigger mechanism actuated upon the mine being launched from a submarine or may be stoppered by any well-known compound quickly dissolvable in sea Water to thereby admit water into the upper compartment.

The partition contains openings 11, eight in number in the preferred embodiment, Iinto which are threaded water inlet pipes 12 and 13 of different lengths alternately disposed around the circle of openings 11. The difference in lengths of these pipes isto insure that the Water will be evenly distributed throughout a chemical substantially filling the lower compartment 7. The openings of these pipes 12 and 13 are covered by screens 14 to prevent any foreign matter from getting into the chemical cornpartment 7.

The partition 5 also-has screened pressure equalizing openings `15, four in number in the preferred embodiment, having a restricted portion 16 whereby a portion of the gas generated may ow up into the water compartment to thereby equalize the pressures and allow water to continue to How from the upper compartment 6 into the lower compartment 7. A further opening 17 similar to openings 15 has an equalizing pipe 18 aixed thereto. This equalizing pipe 18 is adapted along with openings 15 to equalize pressures rapidly when the gas generator is in the vertical position shown by allowing gas to enter compartment 6 above the initial water level. Should the device be displaced from the vertical position shown, the pressure equalizing openings 15 will function as rapid equalizing orifices depending on which quadrant with respect to the vertical position the generator is listing, an opening 15 being provided in each quadrant.

Centrally disposed of the partition 5 is an exhaust conduit 20 adapted to be secured as by threads 21 to a mine housing so that gases generated in chemical compartment 7 will flow through the conduit 29 into the mine to thereby make the mine buoyant. An inlet 22, in the conduit 20, is secured to a circular block 23 having four openings 24. Through these openings in block 23 are threaded pipes 25 at right angles having screened ends 26 for carrying the generated gas intov the exhaust conduit 20 and to the mine casing. It `is obvious that any number of pipes 25 may be used to carry the gas to the conduit 20. A plug 27 in the casing 4 permits the insertion of chemicals into compartment 7.

Threadedly afxed to the outlet of conduit 8 in the upper compartment `6 is the check valve 10 which is designed to admit a predetermined amount of water into the upper compartment 6 and to prevent generated gases from escaping backwardly through conduit 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the check valve comprises f A y Y 2,909,119

a hollow cylindrical housing 28 having internally threaded end sections 29 and 30, the latter being adapted to threadedly engage conduit 8. The internal bore of the housing has a shoulder 31 intermediate the end sections that forms a thickened portion 32 extending toward end section 30. A plurality of radial ports 33 at right angles to each other are provided in portion 32. A piston 34, with its head 35 facing end section 30, is mounted Within portion 32 of the housing for controlling the opening of ports 33 and has a step 36 formed thereon which cooperates with the shoulder 31 to limit longitudinal motion of the piston.

Threaded into end section 29 is a cap 37 having a central bore 38 coincident with the longitudinal axis of the housing 28 and having a vent opening 39 displaced from the longitudinal axis of the housing. A piston rod 40 secured to the rear of the piston 34 is adapted to slide within the bore 38 of the cap 37 upon actuation of the piston. The end portion of the cap 37 within the housing and the back end of the piston 40 have formed therein annuli 4-1 which receive a spring 42 biasing the piston toward the end section 30. A plurality of O-rings 43 are provided on the piston to render the piston fluid-tight whereby both gas and Water are prevented from leaking past the piston.

In operation, upon release of the mine and gas generator assembly, water will iiow into conduit 8 and hydrostatic pressure will force piston 34 toward end section 29. The air in the housing escapes out of vent 39. This movement of the piston toward end 29 of the housing opens ports 33 so that water flows into and tioods compartment 6 until the force due to the spring constantv exceeds the differential pressures on the piston and closes ports 33. In the preferred embodiment, the spring constant was such that the valve closed when the pressure within the generator was approximately 35- pounds per square inch less than the external pressure. The Water -admitted into compartments 6 drops through openings 11 into compartment 7 which in the preferred embodiment is partially filled with nine pounds of granular lithium hydride (18-30 U.S. standard mesh).

The Water reacts with the lithium hydride and causes hydrogen gas to be liberated. A portion of the gas generated ows up through equalizing pipe 18 and/or openings 15 to equalize pressures on both sides of the partition so that water will continue to drop into compartment 7. The major portion of the gas generated ows through pipes 25 into exhaust conduit 20 and into the mine housing to provide the buoyancy necessary to float the mine into position. The pressure built up in the generator housing also acts upon the rear of piston 34 through vent'39 and upon rod 40 to force the piston step 36 tightly against shoulder 31 to thereby prevent the escape of gas past the piston 34. The generator described is capable of operating in any position except the position with the exhaust conduit 20 down. In the preferred embodiment, the generator delivered cubic feet of gasat 600 pounds per square inch.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

. What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a mine housing, a gas generator comprising a closed casing partitioned into an upper and lower compartment, pressure-controlled means for admitting water into said upper compartment, a chemical disposed in said lower compartment, a plurality of openings in said partition for permitting water to ow from the upper compartment into said lower compartment whereby the water will react with the chemical to produce a gas, a plurality of pressure equalizing ports in said partition, and means for directly conveying the liberated 4 gas from the lower compartment'out of said 'casing Vand into said mine housing.

2. In combination with a submarine launched moored mine housing, a gas generator forming with said mine housing a streamlined assembly, said generator comprising a closed casing having a water compartment and a gas-generating compartment, a water-How connection between said compartments, water inlet means to said vwater compartment, a chemical in said gas-generating compartment, a pressure-controlled check valve in said water inlet means for admitting sea Water into said Water compartment, said water flowing from said water compartment into said gas-generating compartment and reacting with said chemical to produce a gas, and gas outlet means from said casing for conveying the gas out of said casing and to said mine housing.

3. A device as described in claim 2 wherein said check valve comprises a housing having a Water inlet and a plurality of water outlets, a piston within said housing, a spring normally biasing said piston to prevent communication between said inlet and outlets, said piston being actuated by water pressure to permit passage of Water between said inlet and outlets, and means responsive to the pressure of the generated gas within said container for sealing the escape of gas from said housing.

4. A buoyancy component of a submarine launched i moored mine comprising a closed container, a partition separating said container into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a water reacting chemical in saidlower compartment, pressure-controlled means for -admitting-water into said upper compartment, said partition having a plurality of dispersed openings for permitting water to ilow from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, said partition having a plurality of orifices for equalizing the pressures in said compartments,l a plurality of gas outlet means in said lower compartment, and means connected to said gas outlet means for conveying the generated gas out of said container.

5. A device as described in claim 4 wherein said chemical is lithium hydride and said gas is hydrogen.

6. A device as described in claim 4 wherein said plurality of orifices and gas outlet means are spaced about said partition whereby said buoyancy component can operate in positions other than the vertical position.

7. A device as described in claim 4 wherein said means for admitting water is a spring biased check valve having means adapted to seal the valve and prevent generated gases from escaping out the water inlet.

8. A device as deiined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of openings has a plurality of depending pipes of different lengths associated therewith.

9. A buoyancy device of a type described comprising a closed container, a partition separating said container into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a water-reacting chemical in said lower compartment, an inlet conduit for admitting sea water into said upper compartment, said inlet conduit including a check Valve hav ing a piston therein and means exposing one side of the piston to the pressure in said container and the other side to pressure of the sea water, said partition having opening means for water to flow from said upper compartment into said lower compartment, means in said container for equalizing the pressures in said compartments, and means for conveying gas generated in said container to a point outside thereof. I

References-Cited in the tile ofthis patent UNITED STATES vPA'Il-JWTS 627,795 Beck :rune v27, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,821 Great Britain ofl1914 38,603 Sweden Mar. 24, 1915 fi um, 

